Community Language Learning
It was founded by Charles Curran in 1972.
Community Language Learning (CLL) is one of the ‘designer’ methods of language acquisition that arose in the 1970’s and forms part of the Humanistic Approach to language learning.
The key features of these methodologies is that they flout orthodox language teaching, they have a teacher (regarded by devotees of the method with something approaching religious awe), and they all developed from outside language teaching. Additionally they are all rigidly-prescriptive and emphasize the learners’ responsibility for their own learning.
The process of CLL is as follows:
There are clearly some major problems with CLL. It can only be done with small numbers of students. The students have to share a single mother tongue. The teacher has to be highly proficient in the target language and in the language of the students. The teacher also has to have enormous reserves of energy – both physical and mental. Arguably, too, it is unwise to undertake CLL as a teacher without some counselling training.
There are certain insights in using CLL.
We are reminded to lower learner’s anxiety, to create as much of a supportive group in the classroom.
Allow students to initiate language
Point learners toward autonomous learning in preparation for the day when they no longer have the teacher to guide them.
